Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

The Incompetent Teaching the Uneducated

Date: 15 October, 2001

By: Chief

y 13 year old son, now in the eighth grade, brought home his Constitution book for the first time today. To say I was chomping at the bit to review what his public school is going to teach him about the supreme law of our land would be a prize understatement indeed. Having said that, and having reviewed what the public school is teaching our children, I am chomping at the bit to nail to the barn door the utter incompetent slug who crafted this piece of trash that our children will be learning.

I won't bother you with all the grotty details, however I will bother you with just a few.

First of all, contained in the Preamble of the Constitution, is the general welfare clause. To "promote the general welfare. . .." This clause, as outlined within the Federalist Papers, pertains strictly to promoting commerce. This public school Constitution book contains "relief of unemployment, flood and drought control." There has never been — within the Constitution — any provision or power granted to the Congress to pass out benefits to a few of We the People. Ugh.

A second faux pas pertains to impeachments. This book still contends that Andrew Johnson was the only president to be impeached. Now unless I'm way off the mark, I seem to recall, in the not too distant past, another president was impeached. Does the name William Jefferson Klinton ring a bell? Unreal.

As we know, the founders of our Constitution believed the People and the States to be sovereign. There was no 'national' government. A limited federal government with limited powers. Not so the public school definition of our government. It is, to them, a "national government." No sovereign states or people. Balls.

One would not think our Constitution is so big or difficult to read that purported educators would miss an entire clause. Oh hah. These educators completely left out Article I, Section 3, Clause 2. The classification clause for senators. Here is the missing clause:

"Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies."

Just left the whole thing out. Amazing.

Moving right along to the powers granted to the Congress (Article I, Section 8), a rather important section I should think, the 'necessary and proper clause' has been conveniently renamed by the school to the "implied powers" clause or the "elastic clause." Nothing could be further from the truth. Congress was granted certain specific powers. No more, no less. Though over time, Congress has taken a lot more than less. The point here is this: Congress was granted the power "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers. . .." As you can read, there is nothing implied or elastic about the necessary and proper clause. Congress can enact laws for the powers they have been granted, but no more. Duh.

Believe me when I write this, it gets worse. But enough of the basic Constitution itself. Let us look at a couple of amendments and how the school interprets them.

Freedom of speech. The school book states that free speech can be limited if "abusive." Further this same piece of fire starter states that speech can be limited "in time of war ... by both national and state governments." Balderdash.

What about the Second Amendment? Our beloved public schools have this to say: "Since this amendment restricts Congress only, a state may restrict the use of arms if it wishes. [...] It has become customary for the states to limit the keeping of arms to those who receive a permit from the police." Hogwash.

Think that one was bad, you ain't read nothing yet. Pertaining to the 5, 6, 7 and 8 Amendments, the school book reads as follows: "The rights of persons accused of crimes are protected by Amendments 5, 6, 7, and 8, and by other provisions within the original articles of the Constitution. These limitations apply to the federal courts only and do not govern the procedure in state courts." Unbelievable.

Originally what the book said was true. True prior to 1868 and the ratification of the XIV Amendment. However, since the XIV Amendment has been on the books for 133 years, what applied to the federal government applies to the states and political subdivisions as well. Gee, what a concept. To put it another way, prior to the ratification of the XIV Amendment, the bill of rights did indeed only apply to the federal government, not the states. Like I said, that was prior to 1868.

Oh, just one more 'grotty' detail. The school book still lists the equal rights (for women) amendment as the failed XXVII Amendment. The actual XXVII Amendment is the compensation of members of Congress and was ratified in 1992. Really right up to date. Maroons.

This claptrap being billed as Constitutional education of our primary school children, as you have plainly read, is not education at all. Brainwashing is, to be sure, much more accurate. Who or whom put this piece of garbage together is in essence, with the blessing of the school board, telling our children (1) they have no rights within the state they reside, (2) the national government is kind and benevolent and will give them money and take care of them because they are too stupid to take care of themselves, (3) the government is always right and (4) the government knows what is best for you (when in doubt, refer to number 3).

With dis-education such as this, our Posterity ... has no future. No information is bad enough. Incorrect or willful dis-information is far, far worse. I strongly submit We the People need to hold our purported educators' feet to fire and then roast 'em. I shall be.

I fully believe that inept teachers, who are still on the payroll, should preface each class with: